Los Angeles Trade Technical College vs. Palomar College

Comparable Facts

Compare Los Angeles Trade Technical College in Los Angeles, CA with Palomar College in San Marcos, CA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Palomar College is larger than Los Angeles Trade Technical College based on total student enrollment (19,550 students vs. 12,519 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Los Angeles Trade Technical College is located in Los Angeles, CA (Large City setting); Palomar College is in San Marcos, CA (Small City setting).
• Los Angeles Trade Technical College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. Palomar College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Los Angeles Trade Technical College 26:1; Palomar College 25:1.

Los Angeles Trade Technical College vs. Palomar College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Los Angeles Trade Technical College or Palomar College? Published tuition is the sticker price; many students pay less after aid (see average net price below).

• The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Palomar College than Los Angeles Trade Technical College ($8,372 vs. $13,154).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Los Angeles Trade Technical College are 1.5% lower than at Palomar College ($25,407 vs. $25,804).
• Palomar College is 9.4% more expensive for in-state tuition than Los Angeles Trade Technical College (about $116 more per year; $1,354.00 vs. $1,238.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 0.7% higher at Palomar College than at Los Angeles Trade Technical College (about $78 more per year; $10,650.00 vs. $10,572.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Los Angeles Trade Technical College than at Palomar College (87% vs. 81%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Los Angeles Trade Technical College students is 35.7% larger than aid received by Palomar College students ($6,746 vs. $4,972).

Los Angeles Trade Technical College vs. Palomar College Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Los Angeles Trade Technical College or Palomar College? Typical SAT and ACT scores (same estimates as in the table above), middle 50% test ranges where reported, test score submission policy, deadlines, and acceptance rates summarize admission difficulty between Palomar College and Los Angeles Trade Technical College.

• Both colleges report an open admissions policy; selectivity can still vary by program or major.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Los Angeles Trade Technical College - Open admission; Palomar College - Open admission.
• Typical fall application deadline: Los Angeles Trade Technical College Sep 7, 2026.

Los Angeles Trade Technical College vs. Palomar College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Los Angeles Trade Technical College and Palomar College? Graduation rate, earnings, and student loan debt are common indicators. The bullets below summarize the same federal outcomes fields as the comparison table (College Scorecard / IPEDS where applicable).

• Graduates from Palomar College earn a median of about $7,400 more per year than Los Angeles Trade Technical College graduates about ten years after starting college ($39,700 vs. $32,300), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Los Angeles Trade Technical College graduates have a $1,625 lower median loan debt than Palomar College graduates ($5,375 vs. $7,000).
• Among borrowers, Los Angeles Trade Technical College graduates have an estimated $17 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Palomar College graduates ($55 vs. $72).
• More Palomar College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Los Angeles Trade Technical College students, three years after graduation. (30% vs. 26%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/. Values reflect the most recent year available in our dataset.